Work begins on ‘green’ apartments in Everett
Published 10:05 pm Wednesday, September 23, 2009
EVERETT — Work got underway Wednesday on what will be Everett’s first Built Green project: a combined apartment and retail building in downtown.
The $19.8 million four-story project, known as the Potala Village, will feature 108 apartments and 15,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space at the corner of Rucker and Pacific avenues in Everett. Developed by Dargey Enterprises, Potala Village will be built using environmentally friendly methods as determined by the Master Builders Association of Snohomish and King counties, which oversee the Built Green program.
“It is an honor to break ground on Potala Village in Everett with a backdrop of the great views, community and downtown area bursting with growth potential,” said Lobsang Dargey of Dargey Enterprises. “Everett is a beautiful city and is a very desirable location for people to live, to work to raise a family.”
In 2006, Dargey bought the Everett Public Market building on the corner of California and Grand. Two years later, along with Rick Lapinski and Mark Reichlin, he purchased the Federal Building at 3006 Colby Ave. The Potala Village site, which formerly was home to Good Guys car lot, was purchased in 2007. Dargey Enterprises has an $80 million real estate portfolio.
A former Tibetan monk, Dargey emigrated to the United States more than a decade ago. He named Potala Village after the Potala Palace, which was built in Tibet in 637 AD. A significant structure in Tibet, the Potala Palace housed several Dali Lamas throughout the centuries.
Everett’s Potala Village will have studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments in the upper floors. The ground floor will be reserved for commercial space. The village will be the first in Snohomish County to be developed using Built Green standards.
“We are pleased that Mr. Dargey has chosen Everett for this exciting community investment,” said Mayor Ray Stephanson. “Not only will this project change the Everett skyline and help beautify the neighborhood, it does so in a way that is beneficial to our urban environment.”
